National Groups Call on Congress to Fund Efforts to Address Children’s Lead Exposure in Flint and Other Cities

(November 28, 2016) – “As organizations dedicated to protecting and improving the health, safety and well-being of America’s children and families, we feel it is critical that Congress passes funding assistance before the end of the year for Flint, MI and other communities affected by lead contamination.

“No level of lead is safe for children and even trace amounts can cause irreversible damage to a child’s brain development and nervous system. Yet children and families in Flint, MI and other communities have been waiting for over a year for help to address this crisis and prevent future cases of lead exposure.

“Congress promised this funding in September, and we strongly urge them to keep their word and pass the $220 million in funding approved by the Senate before the end of the year, so that these communities can begin to take steps to improve water systems to assist those affected by lead-poisoning, and make sure our schools and homes are safe for kids and families.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is a non-profit professional organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical sub-specialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

CHN is an alliance of more than 100 national organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, including service providers, faith-based groups, labor, civil rights, and policy expert organizations, and other advocates concerned with meeting the needs of low-income and vulnerable people.

The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a nonpartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions.

MomsRising.org is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable childcare, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many others. MomsRising also advocates for better childhood nutrition, health care for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families. In 2013, Forbes.com named MomsRising’s web site as one of the Top 100 Websites For Women for the fourth year in a row and Working Mother magazine included MomsRising on its “Best of the Net”list. MomsRising also maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org.